Do you live where wild strawberries grow? I do - but of course not at the moment. Too much snow.
I recently ran across a history of their use - it may make you view them with new respect when you see them - and maybe make it worth your time to pick those tiny little gems.
The Indians here in the west used wild strawberries for colds - even though they didn't know about the vitamin C content! Mashed strawberries were made into a paste and used to clean teeth and to relieve toothache.
They used the juice to mix with water and bathe reddened eyes and to squeeze into inflamed sores and onto sunburned skin to speed healing.
A tea made from the dried leaves was used to relieve stomach troubles.
The strawberry's roots were harvested and made into bitters - for a Spring tonic and blood purifier.
My bet is that the settlers soon learned to copy them, since those old-time farm and ranch women had no corner drugstore.
In the East, during the American Revolution, Minutemen were saved from scurvy by drinking tea made from the fresh green foliage of the wild strawberry.
So it appears that the entire plant has been used for some health-giving function.
Next time you see a wild strawberry - do a bit of harvesting!
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Native American Health Food: The Wild Strawberry
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